Digital Commons Network^™

Palivizumab Dosing And Risk Of Rsv Infection In Premature Children, Michael J. Araas

Public Health Theses

We conducted a retrospective case-control study of children attending the Yale-New Haven Hospital Premature Infant Primary Care Clinic (YNHH-PIPCC). Subjects were prematurely born children under 24 months of age cared for at the YNHH-PIPCC between October 2000 and March 2011. They are eligible to receive monthly passive respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunization with palivizumab during the RSV season. All cases had laboratory-documented severe RSV disease necessitating hospital admission or outpatient visit. Controls did not have severe RSV disease during the same season as their matched case. Controls were matched to the cases by gestational age and month of birth. Risk …

Exhibiting Health: Museums As A Venue For Public Health Intervention, Jacqueline Katherine Bruleigh

Public Health Theses

Public health interventions are as broad as the field itself. Through this paper, I will highlight the missed opportunity that museums present as an intervention site for public health. I will then discuss the design, content, challenges, successes, and directions for growth of a specific exhibition (Big Food: Health, Culture, and the Evolution of Eating), as an example of successfully translating public health into the museum context, which could be used as a starting point for further interventions in this underutilized venue.

Blindness And Poverty: An Outreach-Based, Case-Control Study Assessing The Relationship Between Poverty And Visual Impairment From Cataract In Greater Accra, Central, Eastern, Western, Volta, And Ashanti Regions Of Ghana, Jonathan Legrand Curtis

Public Health Theses

Background

Blinding cataracts have been linked to poverty, and are the most common form of preventable blindness in the developing world. The WHO has identified cataract surgery as one of the top five potential public health interventions in developing countries; however, studies exploring the initial economic attributes before cataract surgery and subsequent outcomes following the sight-restorative surgery in the developing world have not been undertaken. This study assesses the baseline economic and sociodemographic attributes of a cohort of 267 cataract cases in rural villages throughout southern Ghana and compares them with 100 controls to test whether those with existing cataracts …

Epidemiology And Trends For Vibriosis In Connecticut, 1999-2010, Olivia Ellis

Public Health Theses

Background: Behavior and environment play a significant role in the acquisition of vibriosis. Vibrio data collected over the past twelve years suggests that incidence of vibriosis has increased in Connecticut. Vibriosis is a physician and laboratory reportable illness in Connecticut. Surveillance data was collected by Connecticut FoodNet and Connecticut Department of Public Health staff. These data were analyzed to evaluate the epidemiology and trends in incidence over time.

Methods: Incidence rates were stratified by demographic, geographic, bacteriologic and clinical groups and trends in the incidence and percentage of cases in these groups were analyzed over time. Because risk factors for …

Determinants Of Dengue Transmission During Epidemic And Inter-Epidemic Periods In Two Colombian Cities, Yao Fu

Public Health Theses

Dengue fever is an urban disease that has a complex epidemiology consisting of alternating periods of intense epidemics and persistence in endemic locations. No studies have compared the patterns of geographic variation and determinants of dengue transmission in neighborhoods during epidemic and non-epidemic periods. Colombia's individual-based epidemiological surveillance system provides a unique opportunity to study this topic. The goal of this study was to better understand dengue epidemiology in two of the highest dengue fever reporting Colombian cities that vary in climate, Armenia (elevation 1320-1580 m, 21-23 C) and Barranquilla (elevation 5-134m . 27-30 C). We used a novel ecological …

Occupational Exposures Of Healthcare Workers To Pertussis Within A Large Pediatric Care Network: A Retrospective Study, Danica Elizabeth Kuncio

Public Health Theses

Background

Infection control policies have a significant impact on the risk for disease transmission in healthcare settings, and adherence to guidelines dictates their effectiveness. Healthcare worker (HCW) exposure to communicable diseases can occur when guidelines have not been consistently implemented, placing the HCW at risk for infection with subsequent transmission to patients and co-workers. Respiratory pathogens are a common source of healthcare-associated infection, especially in pediatric settings and pertussis has emerged as a particularly important agent that is associated with an increasing number of both community and healthcare-associated outbreaks despite the availability of an effective vaccine. Adults, including HCWs, are …

The Health Status Of Prisoners At Three Rural Haitian Prisons, Katherine Grace Lamonaca

Public Health Theses

Background: Aside from documented high prevalence of infectious disease, little is known about the health status of prisoners in developing countries. In Haiti, prisons typically lack adequate food, clean water, and medical care. Some prisoners, however, may receive additional food from visitors during designated food delivery hours. This study sought to characterize the overall health status of Haitian prisoners as well as to begin to explore the impact of incarceration on health status. We hypothesized that prisoners who had more visitors and shorter lengths of detention would be more likely to have better overall health status, measured by having a …

Introduction One Health: More Than Just A Catch Phrase!, Sherman W. Jack

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Contagious Ecthyma In A Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep From Utah, David J. Wilson, Leslie Mcfarlane

Human–Wildlife Interactions

In December 2008, near Flaming Gorge Reservoir in northeastern Utah, a 2 ½-year-old male Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) was reported in poor body condition with bloody lesions covering the muzzle area. The sheep was euthanized, and samples were submitted to the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Logan, Utah. The gross and microscopic lesions confirmed the diagnosis of contagious ecthyma (CE). This is the first documented report of CE in bighorn sheep from Utah.

Using Radio-Telemetry To Assess The Risk European Starlings Pose In Pathogen Transmission Among Feedlots, Shannon M. Gaukler, H. Jeffrey Homan, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier

Human–Wildlife Interactions

We monitored site-use and movements of 102 radio-tagged European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) during the winter months at 2 concentrated animal feeding operations (feedlots) in central Kansas. Our research investigated the spatial ecology of wintering starlings as part of a broad epidemiological study on the possible role of starlings in pathogen transmission at feedlots. Site fidelity was 0.677 and 0.552 (days at capture-site per total days tagged) for feedlots A and B, respectively. Minimal exchange (9%) occurred between feedlots A and B and was often followed by a roost-site change. Starlings rarely abandoned the feedlot where they were captured, …

Brucellosis In The Greater Yellowstone Area: Disease Management At The Wildlife–Livestock Interface, Brant A. Schumaker, Dannelle E. Peck, Mandy E. Kauffman

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Elk (Cervus elaphus) and bison (Bison bison) of the Greater Yellowstone area are the last known reservoir of bovine brucellosis (Brucella abortus) in the United States. Domestic cattle occasionally contract the disease while grazing in areas where infected wild ungulates have aborted their fetuses or have given birth. Cases of brucellosis in cattle trigger costly quarantine, testing, and culling procedures. Government agencies and stakeholders, therefore, allocate valuable resources to prevent wildlife-to-cattle transmission. Scientific uncertainty about the biology, epidemiology, and economics of brucellosis makes it difficult to determine the length to which society should go to control it or the combination …

Role Of Bird Movements In The Epidemiology Of West Nile And Avian Influenza Virus, Sabir B. Muzaffar, Nichola J. Hill, John Y. Takekawa, William M. Perry, Lacy M. Smith, Walter M. Boyce

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Avian influenza virus (AIV) is influenced by site fidelity and movements of bird hosts. We examined the movement ecology of American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) as potential hosts for West Nile virus (WNV) and greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons frontalis) as potential hosts for AIVs. Research was based on radio-telemetry studies conducted in the Central Valley of California, USA. While crows were restricted to a small area of only a few square kilometers, the distribution of the geese encompassed the northern Central Valley. The crows used 1.5 to 3.5 different roosting areas monthly from February through October, …

Serologic Evidence Of Brucella And Pseudorabies In Mississippi Feral Swine, Sherman W. Jack, James C. Cumbee Jr., Kristina C. Godwin

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Feral swine (Sus scrofa) are an ever-increasing problem across the United States. Besides physical environmental damage that they cause, they may harbor and transmit a number of pathogens to humans, livestock, and other domestic animals. We sampled feral swine across the state of Mississippi for titers to several diseases. Antibodies against Brucella were found in 16 of 499 (3.2%) feral swine, and antibodies against pseudorabies (porcine herpes virus, type 1; Herpesveridae sp.) virus were identified in 37 of 499 (7.4%) feral swine from across the state of Mississippi. Evidence of classical swine fever, African swine fever, swine influenza, …

Animal-Related Injuries Resulting In Emergency Department Visits And Hospitalizations In The United States, 2006–2008, Ricky L. Langley

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This paper presents information on emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations resulting from an animal-caused injury from 2006 to 2008 using data collected from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Information on the number of ED visits and hospitalizations from adverse animal encounters, the types of injuries resulting from such encounters, and the therapeutic procedures performed to treat injured persons from bites or stings caused by various species of animals are presented. The economic costs of animal-caused injuries also are discussed. Over 1 million hospital ED visits and 48,000 hospitalizations were reported annually in the United States due to …

From Involuntary Sterilization To Genetic Enhancement: The Unsettled Legacy Of Buck V. Bell, Roberta M. Berry

Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy

No abstract provided.

Invisible, Unequal, And Forgotten: Health Disparities In The Elderly, Monique M. Williams

Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy

No abstract provided.

Auctioning The Building Blocks Of Life: Carbon Auction, The Law, And Global Warming, Steven Ferrey

Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy

The pursuit of money often clouds or derails even the best intentions. A recurring theme of great literature — the conflict between the pursuit of massive revenue and the best intentions, in this case to control climate change before a world crosses the tipping point of no return — is embodied in the United States' legal requirements on global warming. A legal challenge on the new concept of auctioning rights to emit CO2, a building block of life itself, may determine the future success of carbon control of global warming. Ten Eastern states, taking the lead with their new Regional …

Ethical Challenges Of Hiv Infection In The Workplace, Arthur S. Leonard

Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy

No abstract provided.

Chemical And Biological Evaluation Of Antibiotic-Based Ionic Liquids And Gumbos Against Pathogenic Bacteria, Marsha Rae Cole

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The research presented in this dissertation explores a novel pragmatic therapeutic approach for control, prevention, and treatment of infectious disease using Active-Pharmaceutical Ingredient-based Ionic Liquids (API-ILs) and Groups of Uniform Materials Based on Organic Salts (GUMBOS). Accordingly, several antiseptic- and antibiotic-based API-ILs and GUMBOS were synthesized and characterized using a combination of analytical and microbiological techniques. Overall, this research presents an advanced alternative to combination antibiotic therapy by using a novel group of ionic antimicrobial materials that have controlled pharmacokinetics, improved bioavailabilities, reduced toxicities, multi-modal properties, and potent antimicrobial spectrum of activity as a viable alternative to combating bacterial infections. …

Health Care Access And Insurance Availability In Nevada, Douglas L. Garner, Marie A. Wakefield, Tiffany G. Tyler, A. Dexter Samuels, Roger Cleveland

Social Health of Nevada Reports

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2012) defines healthcare access as “the timely use of health services to achieve the best health outcomes.” The Department specifies that efficient health care access is contingent on several steps, including (1) entry into the healthcare system, (2) availability of needed services, and (3) accessibility of providers with whom individuals can establish relationships founded on mutual communication and trust.

Disease Prevalence And Behavioral Risk In Nevada, Shannon M. Monnat

Social Health of Nevada Reports

Throughout the last several years, people living in the United States have engaged in intense debates about health care reform, costs, and mandates. What is often missing from these debates is arguably the key issue in American health: What is making us sick in the first place?

Health Status Effects On Human Female Mate Preferences And Sociosexuality, Tiffany Alexandra Alvarez

McNair Poster Presentations

Much literature suggests that the sociosexual strategies of females are highly sensitive and consequently responsive to change and its parameters. Through the investigation of an unexplored contextual variant—health status—this study aimed to broaden the understanding of the facultative nature of human female sociosexuality and mate preferences paradigms. We recruited normally cycling women between the ages of 18 and 30 when they were sick (A) had them complete a questionnaire designed to obtain, among other things, measures of their symptom severity and sociosexuality (B) had them evaluate the appeal of two computer manipulated markers of sexual dimorphism (those present in the …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Clinical Features Of Amoebiasis And Entamoeba Histolytica Genotypes, Remzi̇ Engi̇n Araz, Özgür Koru, Mehmet Tanyüksel, Tuncer Özeki̇nci̇, Ali̇ Ceylan, Hati̇ce Zeynep Güçlü Kilbaş, Mutali̇p Çi̇çek

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To determine the presence of Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar and E. moshkovskii in stool samples, tRNA-based short tandem repeat gene polymorphism in E. histolytica isolates, and the relationship between amoeba load and clinical outcome in studies. Materials and methods: This study involved 840 stools samples of individuals having diarrhea/dysentery and individuals who were asymptomatic by using microscopy, culture, E. histolytica antigen ELISA, and conventional/real-time PCR methods. Results: Of the 840 samples analyzed, 4.3% (36/840), 2.6% (22/840), and 7.4% (62/840) of the stool samples were determined to be positive by E. histolytica antigen ELISA, and real-time PCR for E. histolytica and E. …

Critical Analysis Of Hiv/Aids Communication Messages, Charli Marie Wilson

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

For the last thirty years HIV/AIDS has affected the lives of many people in the United States. Since the first introduction of the disease to America, healthcare officials have implemented several methods in various disciplines to prevent new cases. The information in this thesis examines how public health campaigns have contributed to the prevention of HIV. The research method in this thesis assumes a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of three HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns and how these media educate men who have sex with men (MSM) about prevention. The CDA method is useful in identifying consistent emerging themes in the campaigns …

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: A Courtroom Epidemic, James B. Damiano

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Disease-Branding And Drug-Mongering: Could Pharmaceutical Industry Promotional Practices Result In Tort Liability?, Jason S. Cetel

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Real-Time Quantitative Pcr For Evaluation Of Mutans Streptococci And Dental Caries, Chanika Manmontri

All ETDs from UAB

Mutans streptococci (MS), e.g., Streptococcus mutans (Sm) and Streptococcus sobrinus (Ss), are associated with dental caries. Quantification of MS has been shown to predict caries risk. A new technology using PCR may streamline quantification compared to traditional culture methods. Purpose: To use real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and standard plate counting (SPC) for detection and quantification of levels of Sm, Ss and total streptococci (TS) in clinical samples from high-caries-risk children with no regular access to dental care and to study correlation of these bacterial levels and ratios to caries prevalence. Methods: Saliva and plaque samples were collected from school-aged children …

Difference In Health Literacy Level Between Older Adults With And Without Low Vision, Mary L. Warren

All ETDs from UAB

Functional health literacy is the ability to understand and apply health information from printed documents and is dependent on reading. Few studies have examined functional health literacy levels in visual impaired older adults despite the fact low vision is common among older adults and impairs reading performance. This study investigated whether community dwelling older adults with moderate visual impairment from age-related macular degeneration had lower health literacy levels compared to older adults without low vision. The Test of Functional Health Literacy for Adults (TOFHLA) was administered to 50 adults aged 65- 94 years with AMD and 50 normally sighted adults …

Regulation And Function Of Interleukin-21-Producing T Cells And Immune-Mediated Control Of Hiv-1 Infection, Latonya Denise Williams

All ETDs from UAB

CD8 T cells play a critical role in controlling intracellular pathogens, particularly viruses. However, during persistent viral infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection, virus-specific CD8 T cells become increasingly impaired by poorly understood mechanisms. Massive CD4 T cell depletion is a hallmark of HIV-1 infection and is associated with CD8 T cell dysfunction and ineffective viral containment. CD4 T cells provide critical helper signals to CD8 T cells, especially during uncontrolled viral infections. Mouse models of chronic viral infection implicate interleukin-21 (IL-21), produced primarily by CD4 T cells, as a vital factor necessary for the maintenance of fully …

The Effects Of Mucoid Phenotype And Cftr Genotype On Pneumococcal Lung Disease And Biofilm Development, Evida Adiko Dennis

All ETDs from UAB

Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) is a respiratory pathogen and leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, but its role in cystic fibrosis (CF) has not been well studied. While prospectively examining the incidence of SP infection, a high number of SP were recovered from the sputum of pediatric CF patients. The predominant serotypes identified were 3, 19A, and 19F. Serotype 3 was isolated more readily in CF patients than from patients without CF (P=0.0159). All serotype 3 isolates were mucoid and produced high levels of polysaccharide capsule compared to others in the collection. Mucoid bacteria, predominately Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are commonly associated …